Ita Rabbini.1. TAMAR, or Thamar, Daughter-in-law to the Patriarch Judah, Wife of Er and Onan, and Mother to Pharez and Zarah. The Book of the Testament of the twelve Patriarchs says, that Tamar was of Mesopotamia, and Daughter of Aram, that is, originally a Syrian: That Bathshuah the Wife of Judah could not endure her, because she was of a Nation different from her own, and inspired the same Hatred of her to her Son Er, who refusing to use Tamar as his Wife, was slain by an Angel of the Lord, on the third day after his Marriage. Others believe that this Wretch was so very much taken with the extraordinary Beauty of his Wife, that he maliciously hinder’d her from becoming a Mother, lest that should impair it. But the Scripture tells us no other Particular of the Life of Er, except that he was very wicked before the Lord, for which reason Genesis xxxviii. 7.the Lord slew him.
Judah then said to Onan, his second Son, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed unto thy brother, Onan took her in obedience to his Father’s Command; but knowing that the Children that should be born from this Marriage, would not be to him, but his Brother, he prevented by a detestable Action that Tamar should become a Mother by him: Wherefore the Lord put him to death also. Judah said then to Tamar, Continue a widow in thy father’s house till my son Shelah shall be of age to marry; for he was afraid that Shelah also might die as his Brothers did before. Tamar therefore lived with her Father for a considerable time, and Judah no longer thought of performing his Promise. Some Years after, when Judah when to a Sheep-shearing to his Friend Hirah the Adullamite, Tamar was informed of it, and went in the Disguise of an Harlot upon the way to Timnath, and sat in a Place where Judah was to pass by. Judah taking her for an Harlot, promised her a Kid, went in unto her, and gave her for a Pledge his Ring, his Bracelets, and his Staff.
Q uickly after he sent her the Kid, but she was not to be found, nor could any one tell what was become of her. But after some Months her Big-belly began to appear, and Judah was informed of it, who would have her burnt alive: And as this Sentence was going to be put in execution, she produced the Ring, the Bracelets, and the Staff, and said she was with Child by him who owned those Pledges. Judah himself owned them, and acknowledged that she was more just than he had been. When she lay in, she was brought to bed of two Twins, of which the one was called Pharez, and the other Zarah, as is said under their Articles. This happened about the Year of the World 2277, before Christ 1723, before the Vulgar Era 1727.
Opus imperfect. in Matth. Homil. 1.The Author of the Imperfect Work upon St. Matthew says, that the Mother of Er the Son of Judah being a Canaanitish Woman, could not approve of the Marriage of her Son with Tamar, who was an Aramean or Syrian; she therefore advised her Son not to come near his Wife: Er followed this Advice, and God struck him dead. His Brother Onan then married her, and considering that the Children which should be born from him and Tamar would be reputed the Children of Er, prevented Tamar from becoming a Mother, by committing a detestable Action, and God put him to death also; so that Tamar still continued a Virgin. Judah being much troubled at the Death of his two Sons, and at the Disappointment of his Daughter-in-law, the Cause of which he knew not, continued a long time in Tears, and in the exercise of Penitence. God being moved at his Concern, let him know what had passed; and Judah made a scruple at marrying Tamar himself, tho’ he was apprized that the Marriage of neither of his two Sons had been consummated.
Testamen. xii. Patriarch in Juda.The Testament of the twelve Patriarchs, from whence the greatest part of these Particulars are taken, intimates that Onan lived a whole Year with Tamar, without using her as a Wife: That when Judah threatened him with his Anger, if he did not consummate his Marriage, he pretended to be willing to do it, but he prevented Tamar from conceiving, as was said before, which made God put him to death. Judah intended to give Tamar as a Wife to his third Son, Shelah; but Bathshuah, the Wife of Judah, hinder’d it, and made Selah to take a Canaanitish Woman to Wife. This so much provoked Judah, that he gave his Wife a Curse, and she died soon after. Two Years afterwards, when Judah went to shear his Sheep, Tamar, his Daughter-in-law dressed herself up as a young Bride, and sat at the Gate of the City. The Custom of the Amorites was, according to this Author, that young Brides were to prostitute themselves for seven Days at the Gate of their City. Judah, being overtaken with Wine, came near her, without perceiving who she was. This is what we read in this Apochryphal Book.